HAVELOCK | A Newport man died Wednesday night after a gun he was playing with discharged and the bullet struck him in the head.

Raymond David Andrews, 22, and another man were in the parking lot of the Nightmare Factory haunted house in Havelock when Andrews was struck by a round from the handgun, which was thought to be unloaded. He died after being transported to CarolinaEast Medical Center in New Bern.

Havelock police are releasing few details of the shooting, which was reported by a 9-1-1 call at 6:36 p.m.

Havelock Police Chief G. Wayne Cyrus said investigators would meet with District Attorney Scott Thomas on Friday morning concerning the death. Cyrus said that at this early stage in the investigation that he did not anticipate that any charges would be filed. Cyrus described the incident as a self-inflicted shooting.

Darren Greenhill, a relative of Andrews, said Thursday morning that the shooting was accidental.

“From what I understand they were at the Nightmare Factory and playing around with guns and one of them was loaded,” Greenhill said. “I don’t know who the other guy was. One of (the guns) had a round in it. The round hit him in the head.”

The Nightmare Factory posted a statement and photo on its Facebook page.

“We are shattered by the loss of our brother Raymond Andrews,” the statement read. “Our hearts are broken and we will never be the same. We will always love and cherish the times we spent together. We miss you Ray.”

The business scheduled candlelight memorials for 9 p.m. Thursday and tonight.

Chris Carter, of Havelock, came with his wife Rebecca Carter to the Nightmare Factory Thursday morning where friends had been leaving flowers and notes near candles that had been burning in honor of Andrews.

“He was an amazing person,” Chris Carter said. “You could talk to him for five minutes and he’d be your best friend.”

He said that Andrews and other employees had come to the business for a meeting in preparation for the haunted house’s opening in September.

“Raymond loved the Nightmare Factory,” Rebecca Carter said.

Chris Carter said he had known Andrews for the last 12 years.

“I grew up with him. I just didn’t think he would go like this,” Carter said.

“He was a kind-hearted and caring person. He took care of his friends. Not much can really sum up who he was. He was probably the best friend I’ll ever have. We just always hung out every day.”

Rebecca Carter said the shooting made no sense.

“I hate that it happened for no reason,” she said. “It didn’t have to happen.”

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Havelock police are investigating the shooting death of a 22-year-old man Wednesday night in Havelock.

Police Chief G. Wayne Cyrus said the shooting happened in the parking lot of the Nightmare Factory at 29 Park Lane in Havelock.

He said the victim, who was not identified, shot himself with a handgun. He would not release details of the shooting.

A relative of the victim said Wednesday morning that the shooting was accidental. He said that the victim, from Newport, and another man were sitting in the parking lot when the shooting happened.

“From what I understand they were at the Nightmare Factory and playing around with guns and one of them was loaded,” said the relative, who the Havelock News is not identifying as to withhold the identity of the victim until next of kin has been notified. “I don’t know who the other guy was. One of them had a round in it. The round hit him in the head.”

Cyrus said the report of the shooting came in at 6:36 p.m. Wednesday. The victim was taken to CarolinaEast Medical Center in New Bern and was pronounced dead.

Cyrus said he could not release any other details, pending consultation with District Attorney Scott Thomas. Cyrus said investigators would be meeting with Thomas later this morning.

Cyrus said that at this early stage in the investigation that he did not anticipate that any charges would be filed.